Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus

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Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Specialty Dermatology

Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a cutaneous condition characterized by a bilateral malar rash (also known as a "butterfly rash") and lesions that tend to be transient, and that follow sun exposure. [1] The acute form is distinct from chronic and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which may have different types of skin lesions. [2] Cutaneous lupus erythematosus is associated with both lupus erythematosus-specific lesions and cutaneous manifestations that are not specific to lupus erythematosus, such as oral ulcers and urticaria. [3] Because of the diagnostic criteria used to diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus, a patient with only cutaneous manifestations may be diagnosed with the systemic form of the disease. [2]

Contents

Forms

Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus can be either localized or generalized. [4]

Localized form

The localized form of the disease is most commonly associated with the malar rash and normally develops in a patient's twenties. The localized form occurs only above the patient's neck and is not associated with rashes in other parts of the body. [4]

Generalized form

Generalized acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus includes skin below the patient's neck and is described as a macropapular rash or photosensitive lupus dermatitis. [4] Symptoms include similar erythematic lesions as seen in the localized form, but forms a symmetrical rash and can be mistaken for a drug rash. [4]

See also

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References

  1. Rapini RP, Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN   978-1-4160-2999-1.
  2. 1 2 Werth VP (June 2005). "Clinical manifestations of cutaneous lupus erythematosus". Autoimmunity Reviews. 4 (5): 296–302. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2005.01.003. PMID   15990077.
  3. McCauliffe DP (March 2001). "Cutaneous lupus erythematosus". Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 20 (1): 14–26. doi:10.1053/sder.2001.23091. PMID   11308132.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Okon LG, Werth VP (June 2013). "Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: diagnosis and treatment". Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. 27 (3): 391–404. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2013.07.008. PMC   3927537 . PMID   24238695.